Facial recognition CCTV grid deployed by Ministry of National Security, Trinidad and Tobago
Information Certainty: Documented
Deployment Purpose: Surveillance
| Summary |
|---|
| In 2022, Trinidad and Tobago is acquiring a range of biometric tools for various services following a large increase in the security budget. One element of this expansion is the installation of a CCTV network of 2400 cameras across the country. The Ministry of Security has contracted an unnamed provider for this effort. The cameras will reportedly have facial recognition capabilities. Though the provider is unknown, it can be speculated that Vivotek is the provider of the products. The reason for this is that a website is streaming a (disconnected) livestream of the Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, and lists Vivotek as the camera manufacturer. Vivotek supplies facial recognition cameras. The camera feed will be used by Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. Another unnamed security institution in Trinidad and Tobago is already using facial recognition. |
Products and Institutions:
| Product Deployed | Unknown Products 0114 |
|---|---|
| Institutions ⠉ | |
| Datasets | Unknown Dataset 0179 |
| Search software |
Status and Events:
| Status | Ongoing |
|---|---|
| Events | Start (2 November 2022, Speculative, ?, No description) |
| Start Date | |
| End Date |
Users:
| Involved Entities | Unknown Institution 0093 |
|---|---|
| Managed by | Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of National Security |
| Used by | Trinidad and Tobago Police Service |
Location:
| City | Port of Spain (Trinidad & Tobago) |
|---|---|
| Country ⠉ |
Description[ ]
Uncertain information: Involved Entities
- Involved Entities: Vivotek (Information Certainty: Speculative,Description: This website shows a disconnected livestream of Vivotek cameras in the Port of Spain, TT)
- Citation keyThis property is a special property in this wiki.: insemcamViewVivotekCamera2022
In November 2022, it was revealed that Trinidad and Tobago are installing a camera grid with facial recognition capabilities. The providers of the tools have not been named.
As police intensify their efforts to fight the rising murder rate, the Acting Police Commissioner says they will soon be using facial recognition software to detect and prevent crime. In an interview with Guardian Media on Wednesday, McDonald Jacob said the new technology should be introduced soon. This comes on the heels of an announcement on Tuesday night by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, who said the Government was spending $80Million to acquire and install 2500 CCTV cameras across the country. The Prime Minister was speaking during a People’s National Movement (PNM) meeting at Signature Hall in Chaguanas when he made the announcement. On Wednesday, Jacob said the TTPS is eagerly awaiting this CCTV grid to assist them in their crime-fighting initiatives. However, he said he could not provide information on how many of those cameras were already installed or were being installed as it was being done by a contractor hired by the Ministry of National Security. He also revealed that another National Security agency is currently testing facial recognition software, which the TTPS will have access to "soon." The acting top cop admitted he could not give a timeline for the introduction of this technology, as he said it was not being done by the Police Service 2
A Biometric update report connects this move to a recent increase in funding for the Ministry. The providers of the tools have not been named.
The news promptly follows the announcement of funding for the national security agencies of TT$5.79 billion (US$853 million) for 2022-2023, up from $5.66 billion 1
Though the providers of the biometrics have not been named, a website can be found where there was a live video stream of Vivotek cameras at the Port of Spain 3. Vivotek cameras can have facial recognition.
References
- a b "{Trinidad and Tobago builds $12M 2,500 CCTV facial recognition camera grid to prevent crime".
- a b "Ag. CoP: Facial recognition to fight crime coming soon". (2022) <http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/ag-cop-facial-recognition-to-fight-crime-coming-soon-6.2.1565456.ad6427e451> Accessed: 2022-12-15
- a b "View Vivotek camera in Trinidad And Tobago, Port-Of-Spain". (2022) <http://www.insecam.org/en/view/440986/> Accessed: 2022-12-15